To the readers of Tamil Nadu Ophthalmic Association (TNOA) Journal of Ophthalmic Science and Research:

With this editorial, I announce my retirement as Editor-in-chief of TNOA Journal of Ophthalmic Science and Research, effective on September 30, 2018. TJOSR is a unique journal because of its explicit mission to represent the scientific and scholarly efforts of ophthalmologists from Tamil Nadu, arguably the Mecca of ophthalmology in India.

Oscar Wilde said, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” With the rapid expansion in the complexity of available research tools that generate vast quantities of data, the separation of truth from artifact becomes ever more of a challenge for scientists and editors alike.

Our aim was to change the journal of TNOA, “often perceived as a relic of old-style communication and change-resistant Journal to a modern Journal, embracing new modes of communication while maintaining its focus on publishing quality clinical research.” To better serve the multiple constituencies of authors and readers, investigators and practitioners, and TNOA members, with greater clarity and strategic direction, we named it as TNOA Journal of Ophthalmic Science and Research.

The advances in technology also apply to the publication process itself. With the rapidly changing landscape of how information is published and how information is accessed, no publication can afford to stand still. The emerging electronic publishing environment offers tremendous opportunities for a publication with a leadership position in the field such as ophthalmology but, equally, some hazards.

A scientific journal is a “potent force,” which keeps “moving forward, rather than getting lost, this necessitates that we define what we are seeking and where indeed we want to go.” Now, nearly 2 years, no aspect of the TJOSR journal is left untouched by “The Internet” and electronic communication, ranging from the submission, review, and dissemination of scientific publications to the emerging (experimental) role of social media in ophthalmology.

TJOSR is the official publication of TNOA, although submission of scientific work, scholarly reviews, and other articles pertinent to ophthalmic science and practice is open to everyone. It has been our good fortune to have been able to publish articles that represent the full range of clinical work in ophthalmology from basic research to clinical research, practice guidelines to recent advances, topics, as well as push the journal into some new and promising directions. Let us continue to develop the knowledge base in our field, with scholarly care and a global perspective.

In this issue, we bring you several interesting original research articles. “Patterns of Pseudoexfoliation Deposits and its Relation to Intraocular Pressure and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defects” by Gargi Sathish et al. has highlighted that pseudoexfoliation is a severe form of glaucoma, with about 45% having severe disc damage even at presentation and concluded that ring pattern is highly specific in detecting Optic Nerve Head (ONH) damage with a diagnostic accuracy of 65%. The original article “Central Macular Thickness in Diabetics without Retinopathy” by Sindhuja Murugesan et al. has brought out the fact based on the central macular thickness that neuronal damage precedes clinical retinopathy. Another original article, “A Study of Effect of Intracameral Use of Preservative-Free Lignocaine (1%) for Pupillary Dilatation during Phacoemulsification Surgery” by Pravda Chaturvedi et al. has shown that intracameral preservative-free lignocaine is a safe and efficient alternative to traditional topical cycloplegics and mydriatics during phacoemulsification surgery. The original article, “Long-term Results of Primary Intraocular Lens Implantation in Infants: Our Experience” by Sasikala Elizabeth et al. has highlighted the favorable long-term outcome of primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in children who were operated before 2 years of age, upon choosing an appropriate IOL power in this age group in view of the myopic shift.

An informative review article on “Monitored Anesthesia Care in Ophthalmic Surgeries” by Manickavasagan Rangaswamy et al. throws light on the importance of monitored anesthesia care in ophthalmic procedures and the implications of various anesthetic agents in eye surgeries.

This issue has a good collection of case reports to catch your attention and photoquiz to invigorate your grey cells.

”Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

Melody Beattie

Gratitude: This issue represents the final issue published during the current editorial team's tenure. As the outgoing editor-in-chief, I can say that I have found my task fascinating and I have enjoyed it very much. I have learned a lot in this time because I have come into close contact with many young researchers, clinicians, and senior faculties from the big ophthalmic institutions in this part of our country. As I reflect on the past 2 and more years of our editorial responsibility, I wanted to recognize some of our accomplishments and thank all those who made our successes possible. My special gratitude is dedicated to all the presidents, managing committee members, editorial board members, and members of TNOA.

”Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”

Edward Everett Hale

My thanks go to the core team lead by the Managing Editor Dr. Murali Ariga, Associate Editor Dr. Rachula Daniel, and the young team of joint editors and many reviewers who committed much time and constructive effort to emphasizing the “peer” in peer review. My special thanks to Dr. Rachula Daniel, Associate Editor, for her invaluable and friendly assistance throughout the past 2 years. It has been my honor and pleasure to serve as an Editor, with such a dedicated and accomplished team of ophthalmologists.

Throughout the years that I have been editor-in-chief, the cooperation between Wolters Kluwer formerly Medknow, the publisher of TJOSR, has been extraordinary in many ways. I have been very impressed with the efforts of Medknow team, led by Pritesh sheth, Hemanth Manjrekar, Anchal, and Ramakant Bandbe, to bring out the journal on time and improve the quality of publishing.

Finally, a big thanks to my loving mother Mrs. Regina Thomas, wife Dr. Sunitha Nirmal, and daughters Nivedha and Neha for sharing precious weekend time for TJOSR work. Although my father is no longer physically present in my life, I still feel his impact every day. I hope I did what I could, with the best of my abilities, to the benefit of each member of this wonderful association TNOA. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to serve you as an editor.

”I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Next Editor, new team: The new Editor-in-chief is Dr. Sharmila Devi, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Regional Institute of Ophthalmology and Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Chennai. Dr. Sharmila Devi brings a wealth of research and editorial experience to the job, and we are glad that she has been elected to take over the reins of editorship of TJOSR. I am sure that she will do her very best to improve the quality of journal, the citations, and impact factor furthermore. I am glad to see the journal in such capable hands and wish the new team all the best during their term!